Tue, Jan 27, 2009 page7

• Sport Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■BASEBALL

  Torre criticizes A-Rod

  Former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre is scathingly critical of superstar third baseman Alex Rodriguez and general manager Brian Cashman in his new book called The Yankee Years. The New York Post reports that Torre claims in the book that Rodriguez’s teammates dubbed him “A-Fraud” after the three-time Most Valuable Player developed an obsession with Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Torre also claims that Rodriguez asked for a personal clubhouse attendant to run errands for him. Torre, who became manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers after an acrimonious split with the Yankees, was also critical of Cashman, saying the general manager never told the team’s ownership that Torre wanted a two-year contract.

  ■SOCCER

  Broken net causes confusion

  A Brazilian match was held up for nearly 10 minutes due to confusion over a broken net. Trouble started in the second half of Saturday’s Rio de Janeiro state championship match between Boavista and Botafogo when a header from Botafogo striker Alessandro ended up in the net. A goal was given but television replays clearly showed the ball had hit the ground wide of the goal and bounced in through a hole in the side. Boavista players protested but, after several minutes of consultations, the referee again pointed to the center circle. The protests continued, the referee and linesman consulted again for another three minutes and the goal was eventually confirmed for a second time. As Boavista players refused to re-start the game, there were more deliberations and the referee finally back-tracked and awarded a goal kick.

  ■RUGBY UNION

  All Black hero turns Aussie

  The All Blacks and New Zealand suffered a shock loss yesterday when the only All Blacks skipper to hoist the rugby World Cup switched teams and became an Australian. David Kirk, who led the All Blacks to victory in the inaugural 1987 World Cup final, became Australia’s newest citizen in a ceremony aptly held on Australia Day. “We’ve lived here as a family for 10 years. My children have grown up here, particularly the younger one, and it just seemed like the right time,” he told Television Three News. But Kirk said his heart still belonged to New Zealand and he would hold dual citizenship: “I grew up in New Zealand. My heart, my emotion, my commitment of course is to New Zealand.” Kirk also confirmed he would always back the All Blacks over the Wallabies. “Of course I’m an All Blacks supporter. I’m a massive All Blacks supporter and it’s the All Blacks all the way,” he said.

  ■CRICKET

  Afghanistan bounce back

  Afghanistan recovered from their first day defeat to Uganda to beat Hong Kong by 13 runs on Sunday to get their World Cricket League Division Three campaign back on track and keep their hopes of reaching April’s 2011 World Cup qualifier alive. Hong Kong were reduced to 90-8 as they chased a 202-run victory target but came close to an unlikely win with a ninth-wicket stand of 62 and 36 for the final wicket. None of Hong Kong’s top eight batsmen got beyond 20 but some late-order hitting from Moner Ahmed, who scored 49 off 38 balls, including three consecutive sixes off Mohammad Nabi, threatened a dramatic finish. No. 11 Nadeem Ahmed then scored 27 off 18 balls, only to be dismissed by Nabi when a top-edged hook was caught on the boundary by Mawais Naziri.
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